Prosecutors say Orting police were called in after neighbors saw Knowles beating the dog last March. They say police found the dog — Kona — in Knowles’ garage tied to a pole, bleeding from severe wounds to his head and neck. They say animal control officers had to cut a piece of wire from around the dog’s neck.

Dog owner Sam Hokanson says Knowles had complained before about the dog’s barking but the men had spoken and Hokanson thought they had come to an agreement.